Store staff to check out the Games

SUPERMARKET workers are gearing up to swap checkouts for turnstiles as they head to London to watch the world’s top disabled athletes.

Staff from the St Annes branch of Sainsburys will go down to the capital next Monday and spend the day at the Olympic Park after being nominated by colleagues to attend the Paralympic Games.

Zoe Hibberd, Kim Anderson, Dave Grayson and Jacqui Lally will join 5,000 of the superstore’s employees at the world-class venue, and will take in three wheelchair basketball matches during the once in a lifetime trip.

Dave Grayson, manager at the St Andrew’s Road North store, said: “It’s a fantastic opportunity for all the colleagues involved and they really deserve it. “Across Lytham and St Annes, many of our colleagues have helped to raise the profile of the Paralympic Games.

“Zoe Hibberd has been a fantastic support in driving the Paralympic message in the community and I know Zoe and the other colleagues are now looking forward to cheering on Paralympic teams to glory.”

Zoe, who has staged a series of Paralympic events in the store, added: “I’m really honoured to have been chosen from so many entries.

“I’ve really enjoyed helping local people to understand more about the Paralympic Games and it’s a great opportunity to meet other colleagues from across the country and learn about their Paralympic experience.”

Sainsburys are the first-ever Paralympic only sponsor, and are currently trying to make Paralympic sport more accessible by encouraging one million youngsters to try their hand at Paralympic sport and supplying free Paralympic sports equipment for schools.

The games start today and run until September 9, with local athletes wheelchair rugby player Myles Pearson, wheelchair racer Shelly Woods and fencers Justine Moore and David Heaton all competing during the competition.